Fifteen police officers, including two senior chiefs, have been detained in Portugal as part of an expanding investigation into alleged abuse at Lisbon police stations. The case, which first emerged last year, now involves more than 20 officers and centres on allegations of violence against vulnerable individuals, including drug addicts, homeless people, and immigrants.
Initial charges were brought in January against two officers in their 20s, accused of torture, rape, and abuse of power. The alleged incidents were reportedly filmed and shared in WhatsApp groups involving dozens of officers. Further arrests followed in March, and the latest wave of detentions includes one civilian alongside additional police personnel.
The allegations are linked to incidents at the Rato and Bairro Alto police stations in 2024 and 2025. Portuguese home affairs minister Luís Neves described the crimes as “particularly serious,” stressing a distinction between those who committed the violence and those who remained silent despite witnessing it.
This is not the first such case in Portugal. In November last year, investigations led to 17 arrests, including 11 police officers accused of involvement in human trafficking and migrant exploitation. According to reports, some officers were allegedly part of a “mafia-like” organisation.
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